By Comr. Ochiba Gabriel
As it is publicly known to be a surviving legacy of an administrative entity that was carved out of the protectorate of northern Nigeria at the beginning of the twentieth century, Benue State was initially known as Munshi Province until 1918 when the name of its dominant geographical feature, the ‘Benue River’ was adopted. However, the state was created in 1976 among the seven states created at that time
Having a population density of about 4,253,641 as we had it from the 2006 census, Benue can not be classified as a state without fineness brains to stir the governmental affairs to impact the lives of the indigenous citizens of the state.
As we have it today in our ‘Food basket of the Nation’, Nigeria, we can not at a time, boast of having elected leaders that care enough for the populace as we can still be classified as one of Nigeria states that is quite underdeveloped.
On a quick turn into the memory Lane, it is observed that Benue state is comprised of the Tiv, Idoma, Igede, Etulo, Igbo and Jukun people. As history holds, the Tiv have dominated the leadership of Benue state in respect to governance, and to be precise, the governorship position of the state.
With all these years of holding the lead, Benue state is still traumatised by bad roads, inadequate health facilities, lacking investors in as much as we are blessed with topographical landscape that should be tapped into and that can attract tourists amidst our agricultural practices and heritage.
The story seem to be changing, the youths have taken it upon themselves to champion a vigorous turnaround by identifying the need to elect positive leaders that mean well for Benue state.
The 2023 election, like it never had been, met the election of a man of God, Rev Dr Hyacinth Alia, who seem to be ready to take the bull by the horn as we can see how he premeditatedly started on a positive notes, addressing issues of grate concerns, such as his peace initiatives, with the Peace committee setup that brought all stakeholders, to address the Herders and Farmers dispute that is challenging our agricultural productions. For the first time in the history of Benue state, youths serving the nation in the capacity of the NYSC, would be recieving #15,000.00 while medical students are to receiving #100, 000 allowance from Benue state government as declared by His Excellency, Rev Dr Hyacinth Alia. It is a sign of good things to come.
It is a thing of honor to have His Excellency, Rev Dr Hyacinth Alia, a humble and well trained from reputable religious institution, to serve Benue state from the Tiv extraction, in his willing to make a difference.
As we had it in the 9th National Assembly, we can also spot the undiluted passion of Hon Francis Otta Agbo, who served at the Center, bringing developments to our region, as what we see that are workable within our constituency are his projects of human capacities, facilitated to ameliorate the hardship of those he represented.
Even though he was denied a return to the Green Chamber, during the Primary of the PDP, with what he achieved so far, a return would have energized him to serve the nation and his people in full capacity, by translate his huge experience, influence in search of developmental infrastructures that would bring hope to the people of Benue state. In his vigorous engagements as a Federal Representative member of the 9th Assembly, the projects he executed within his serving period are speaking volume enough for him to be recognized as a true Idoma native, that is concerned about the lack of governmental infrastructural presence in our land.
Numerous to mention, the Primary Health Care Centre (PHCC) he facilitated as captured in the 2022 budget year, such facility is life saving, it was not just built but fully equipped, and it’s located in Nsura-Izzi, Ijigban ward, in Ado LGA , Benue state, to benefit the people in that locality and beyond.
In addition to all, he never neglected his primary duties as a Representative member. In the Green Carpet, he championed the amendment of an all important Bill, the NDLEA Amendment Bill as accented to by Mr President, Mohammadu Buhari. This Bill had not been amended since it was established on the 29th of December, 1989 via Decree No. 48.
All these were signals of his readiness to do beyond our past leaders that have significantly nothing to show for all the years of the opportunities, Benue people have given to them to represent at the Centre. We have seen where Senators facilitated roads, we have seen where Senators rehabilitate school buildings with their Zonal Intervention Projects (ZIP), it is time to question their representation, however, It is still surprising to the people of Okpokwu/ Ado/ Ogbadibo federal constituency, the completions and nearly completion of projects attracted by Hon Francis Otta Agbo , in the 9th Assembly.
For Hon Francis Otta Agbo, who have shown commitments to dutiful public services, his open door politics has made him accessible by the youths. As a Chairman Committee on Narcotic drugs, he paved way by empowering youths into the Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), and we are prepared to pressurize him in 2027, to represent us at the 11th Senate. In our bid to retire all old politicians by way of sanitizing Benue state political corridors with our votes. The just concluded election as observed, is a key weapon. We saw how it went and formidably we are preparing the ground early enough to rewrite the political trajectories of Benue state.
We are proud to have His Excellency, Rev Dr Hyacinth Alia, who is already executing his political acumen into redefining Benue state. In 2027, we are highly optimistic to retire more wasteful politicians and bring onboard refined brain crafters like Hon Francis Otta Agbo, into the Senate to compliment the good efforts expected from our governor, in this four years in Benue state.
